Phyllis Louise (Brooks) Sears

 Family and friends are invited to join us for an informal memorial gathering for Phyllis Sears, at McGinnis Lake Saturday, June 29, at 2 p.m.  She passed away to join her father Perry, mother Ella, brother Bud, and sister Betty on October 16, 2012, just two weeks and two days short of her 92nd birthday. Phyllis was the first child of five born to Perry H. Brooks and Ella (Swayze) Brooks on the Colville Indian Reservation.  She graduated a straight A+ student from high school as their Valedictorian, and shortly thereafter, in 1939, she married Jay B. Webley. After nearly 20 years their marriage ended.

A few years later she met and married Yens Rivenes.  He called her “Doll.” She retired from the telephone company after 22 years working for them. After Yens retired, they moved to Bozeman, Montana, where they resided for five years before moving to Electric City, Wash.  Their life together was one adventure after another, never losing the humor in their daily surroundings.  The two of them loved playing their harmonicas together and as shy as Phyllis was, she found herself entertaining others in duet with Yens many times, everywhere they went.  She never lost her love or talent for playing the harmonica.  As an accomplished poet, Yens dedicated much of his writings to her.  She lost her best friend when he passed away in 1991.

She loved gardening and was a Master Gardener for the Montana State University Extension Services.  She prepared many great, healthy meals from her harvest and canned the excess for delicious winter eating.

In 1993 she married Elmer Sears calling Electric City home until their move to Richland, in 2004 where she would be close to family.  That marriage dissolved in 2007.

She enjoyed being involved in community activities and was a member of local organizations, which included the Coulee Dam Community Hospital Auxiliary, Federated Women’s Club, Sweet Adelines, and the Ten & Forty.  She never lost her love and talent for crossword puzzles, and still may be working them.  Her spicy spunkiness and humorous wit will be missed by all who knew her.

She is preceded in death by her parents Perry and Ella Brooks, brother Kenneth  Brooks, sister Betty Whitelaw, ex-husband Jay B. Webley, and husband James H. Rivenes.

She is survived by son Roy Webley (Judy), daughter Lynda Pennington (Bob), sisters Elaine Sanford (Frank), Barbara Phillips, grandchildren Beth Mellick (Sean), Michael Webley (Meghan), Robyn Pennington, Bo Pennington (Kiley), stepson James Rivenes, stepdaughter Sally Isaksen (Joe), step grandchildren Traci Sisson (Todd), Jim Rivenes (Noel), Kirsten Simons (Bob), Eric Isaksen, Ben Isaksen (Sarah), and numerous great grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren, a step-great-great granddaughter and numerous nieces and nephews.

We will love and miss you always, Mom.